Art from Africaaah!

When it comes to Africa, you can never get enough of its art. An art exhibition, Afro Adanma, aims to go beyond the tigers and elephants and everything obvious and bring alive the continent’s people and culture through the visual medium.

The exhibition, being organised by Kala Drishti, will feature works of artists Thomas Ongon’ga, Michael Soi, Edward Orato, Dennis Muragiri and James Oluoch, each creation promising a personal journey. Michael Soi’s work, he says, is inspired by the people from Kenya. “My work is a social commentary inspired by the city of Nairobi that addresses everything, right from social issues to what we would rather not talk about in public,” says Michael.

Afro Adanma promises an exotic experience with paintings on cloth and batik prints, to sculptures in wood and soapstone. Based on Masai warriors from Kenya, the themes explored in this exhibition will be inspired by the everyday activities of people in Kenya, warrior-clans, wildlife, and the relationship between a mother and child. “What strikes the most about African art is that it marks the first significant art that we have,” says Anjali Jain, curator and founder of Kala Drishti.

The exhibition also promises to explore the changing landscape of communication in Kenya and uses sound installations of drums beating in the background. Artist Dennis Muraguri feels that his art helps connect the old and new Africa. “My work tells the story that Africa is no longer the ‘dark continent’ but it is becoming modern and technology driven,” says Dennis.